商务英语听力：Misunderstandings

Feifei: Hello, and welcome to
another episode of 6 Minute English with me, Feifei.

Neil: And me, Neil.

Feifei: How are you, Neil? And
what are we talking about today?

Neil: I’m very well, and today we’re
talking about misunderstandings. A famous French writer once said that “Language
is the source of misunderstandings” and with me in the studio today are
colleagues Conrado and Stephani, who have come in to tell us all about a
misunderstanding they had recently. Conrado and Stephani, welcome.

Stephani: Thank you.

Conrado: Thank you.

Neil: So, tell us about your story.

Conrado: Well, we work in the
same company, but in different offices. And one day I was speaking to Stephani
on the phone, and I asked her a question, and she didn’t know the answer, so
she said “hang on”.

Stephani: ‘Hang on’ means ‘to wait’.
I wanted him to wait while I found the answer.

Conrado: But I got confused, I
thought ‘hang on’ was the same as ‘hang up’, and ‘hang up’ means ‘put the phone
down, finish the phone call’.

Stephani: So when I came back
with the answer, he was gone! So I called him back and told him the answer,
then he asked another question, so I said ‘hang on’ again, and again he was
gone! Three times I had to call him back!

Conrado: I didn’t understand
why she was getting angry with me. She got really angry actually, before we
sorted it out.

Neil: Hang up, hang on…That’s a really
good one!

Feifei: If only you’d had
Business Betty there to help…

Neil: Ah, Business Betty. (The door
opens) Ooh, here she is now.

Neil/FF: It’s Business Betty!

BB: Hello!

Neil: Hello, Betty and may I
say you’re looking absolutely fantastic as ever.

BB: Thank you, Neil and how can I
help you?

Neil: We need some tips on
avoiding misunderstandings.

BB: Certainly. If language is the
source of misunderstandings, the best way to avoid misunderstandings at work is
to check what people mean when they’re talking to you. There are several ways
to do this. You can simply say “What do you mean by that?”.

Neil: What do you mean by
that?

BB: That’s right. Or you can tell
the person what you think they mean in your own words. Say “Do you mean…?”

Neil: Do you mean…?

BB: Or “So, are you saying…?”

Neil: So, are you saying…?

BB: Or “Correct me if I’m wrong, but
do you mean…?”

Neil: Correct me if I’m
wrong, but do you mean…?

BB: Good, Neil. You can say “Sorry, I’m
not sure if I got that. Are you saying…?”

Neil: Sorry, I’m not sure if I got
that. Are you saying…?

BB: Or you can ask the other person
to explain what they mean. Say something like “Sorry, what exactly do you mean
by that?”.

Neil: Sorry, what exactly do
you mean by that?

BB: Or say “Sorry, could you go over
that again?”.

Neil: Sorry, could you go over that
again?

BB: “Could you expand on that?”

Neil: Could you expand on
that?

BB: And finally, another way to avoid
misunderstandings is to check that the person you’re talking to has understood
you. Just ask them! Say something like “Is that clear?”.

Feifei: Is that clear?

BB: Or, after an explanation, say “Does
that make everything clear?”.

Feifei: Does that make
everything clear?

BB: And never forget the golden rule
of avoiding misunderstandings – if in doubt, ask! It’s better to ask now than
make a mistake later.

Feifei: Well, that’s very good
because we’re about to put it to the test!

Neil: Yes, Conrado and Stephani. Let’s
imagine that you’re back there now in your offices you’re having this
conversation that got you into so much trouble. But this time use some of Betty’s
tips and see if you can get it right.

Feifei: Does that make sense?
Have another go at the hang on / hang up conversation, but this time do what
Betty suggested. OK? Are you ready?

C/S: Yes, we are ready.

Role-play

Conrado: Ring, ring!

Stephani: Hello, Stephani
speaking.

Conrado: Hello Stephani, it’s
Conrado. I just wanted to ask if the reports are ready.

Stephani: The reports…do you
mean the monthly reports or the yearly reports?

Conrado: Oh, sorry, yes, the
monthly reports.

Stephani: The monthly reports.
OK, just hang on.

Conrado: Sorry, I’m not sure
if I got that. Are you saying “Wait a minute”?

Stephani: Yes, just hang on a
couple of minutes please.

Conrado: OK.

Stephani: Hello, Conrado, sorry
to keep you waiting. The monthly reports are nearly ready – the accountant is
finishing them this afternoon.

Conrado: Correct me if I’m
wrong, but do you mean they’ll be ready by the end of today?

Stephani: Yes, they’ll be ready
by 5 o’clock today. Does that make everything clear?

Conrado: Oh yes, thanks, that’s
great. Thank you very much!

Stephani: You’re welcome.

Feifei: And that’s the end of
today’s role-play!

Neil: How was it for you
two?

Conrado: It was great, much
much better.

Stephani: Yeah, I wish we’d
done it that way in the first place.

Neil: That’s good and that’s
it.

Feifei: Are you saying that we’ve
reached the end of today’s programme?

Neil: Yes we have, so thanks
for helping us out today, Conrado and Stephani. It’s goodbye from all of us. And
join us again for another 6 Minute English!